By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Hangala
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) is addressing the historical “glass ceiling” NQF Level 3 qualification at vocational schools by developing Level 7 and 8 qualifications and specialised short courses.
This will enable instructors at various vocational centres to deliver programmes up to Level 6 and ensure long-term sustainability, announced NUST on its LinkedIn.
The dominating trend has been that vocational graduates intending to study beyond Level 3 in various technical courses have done so in South Africa.
In response, NUST is developing courses in line with the Opportunity-driven Skills and Vocational Education and Training (OP-VET) approach under the IGNITE Green Hydrogen (GH2) Project.
The project, funded by the European Union with €2 million and led by the TVET Department at NUST, addresses the skills gap in this emerging sector. It aligns vocational training with employment opportunities created by public and private investment.
The project consortium includes HYPHEN Hydrogen Energy, Zhero Molecules Walvis Bay, the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT), and Namwater Corporation, ensuring TVET programmes respond directly to market demands.
The initiative will establish the Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) as a Centre of Excellence for Green Hydrogen while complementing initiatives like the Daures Green Hydrogen Village and HyIron project.
The university explained that the centre will be equipped with modern equipment and facilities linking classroom learning with real industry practice. The aim is to focus on high-demand areas such as solar and hydrogen technologies, industrial plumbing, water and wastewater treatment, civil construction, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), and heavy plant operation.
The collaboration with the Namibia Training Authority ensures qualifications meet national standards and industry expectations.
IGNITE GH2 will upskill 685 unemployed graduates and train 40 instructors, closing a critical skills gap and preparing local workers for the thousands of jobs expected from Namibia’s green energy expansion.
Namibia’s ambition to become a global leader in green hydrogen relies not only on its abundant sun and wind, but also on its workforce. However, it has been found that the country has inadequate technical skills required for the sector.
Commenting on NUST and industrial players’ participation and the hosting of IGNITE GH2, the Namibia GH2 Programme Manager for External Affairs, Jona Musheko, explained that it is a positive signal for Namibia’s skills pipeline for green hydrogen and energy derivatives.
“It reflects a coordinated national effort in which universities, vocational training centres, industry, and government work together to anticipate skills needs and proactively close gaps,” noted Musheko.
He said this collaboration between training institutions and industrial players strengthens the likelihood that Namibia will have the right mix of technical, professional, and vocational skills as the sector develops.
Musheko also highlighted that it is essential that training institutions align their courses and qualifications to emerging sectors, citing that these institutions ultimately supply the workforce the industry relies on.
“Alignment helps ensure graduates have relevant, practical competencies for current and future labour-market demand, especially in fast-growing areas such as green industrialisation,” he said.
Musheko’s recommendations also stem from observations of Namibia’s graduates struggling to find opportunities due to mismatches between training and market needs. Reducing this mismatch requires training institutions and industry to work from a shared understanding of the skills required, he noted.
He also updated that there is a growing responsiveness from institutions, including initiatives that introduce higher-level vocational qualifications (happening at NUST, for example) and expanded offerings in renewable energy and related disciplines (some IUM programmes). UNAM also shares an example of collaboration with the industry on research within the GH2 and ammonia space.
Adding on to the stronger alignment across institutions and increased collaboration with government, industry, and international development partners, Musheko noted that these stakeholders included the European Union, Germany, and the Netherlands, aiming to strengthen skills development for the green industrial economy.
Regarding the Programme’s efforts to ensure the necessary skills are developed, Musheko explained that they are supporting skills development through targeted interventions, including scholarships and partnerships that build a pipeline of Namibian talent for the green transition.
Through the Youth for Green Hydrogen Scholarship Programme, funded under the Joint Communiqué of Intent with the German government, scholarships have been awarded to Namibian youth to support inclusive participation.
In 2025, a total of 183 scholarships were awarded to Namibian youth studying programmes relevant to the green transition – 80 at TVET level and 93 at university level.
Following the two calls which made these allocations possible, the Namibian and German governments agreed to launch a third call, allocating €1.2 million (approximately N$25,000,000) for scholarships targeting youth in the Hardap and //Kharas regions.
The 80 TVET beneficiaries are enrolled at NIMT (Keetmanshoop), Johanna Jacobs VTC (Gibeon), and AIMS VTC (Stampriet).
Since employment opportunities are now found in emerging sectors, Musheko highlighted that stakeholders need sustained, practical awareness campaigns (through radios, newspapers, and other channels) to enlighten learners and parents about what the new industries are, which careers exist, and what subjects/qualifications lead to those careers.
This includes school outreach programmes, career guidance programmes, regional information sessions, and visibility of real opportunities such as scholarships, apprenticeships, and internships.
“We also need to present a clear pathway; TVET to employment, TVET to higher qualifications, and university to industry, to build confidence that these emerging fields lead to real jobs and livelihoods,” Musheko noted. erastus@thevillager.com.na
